“That's easy,” said Broderick, with a diabolical wink of his one eye. “I'll have him change places with me.”
“Good! How many men are here?”
“You don't need to know that. There's enough to bury you.”
“Have Meeker and Terrill gone?”
“Tom? He's in the next room here, and can count it a mercy of the saints if he gits out in a week. Meeker's gone with the old man. Well, I can't stay a-gabbin' any longer, or I'll be caught, and then the divil himsilf couldn't save me.”
I shuddered at the thought of the “old man,” and the shadow of Doddridge Knapp weighed on my spirits.
“Are you ready for an excursion, Fitzhugh?” I whispered.
He nodded assent.
“Well, we'll be out of here in a minute or two. Take that overcoat. I've got one. Now tie that blanket to the bedpost. No, it won't be long enough. You'll have to hold it for us, boys.”
I heard the change of guards below, and, giving directions to Wainwright, with funds to settle our account with the house, I blew out the lamp, quietly swung open the shutter and leaned over the sill.